The Mighty Warrior
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We talked last week about Jesus being called the wonderful counselor and that because he was fully human and fully God that He understands what we are going through and that through the Holy Spirit, He can give us counsel on how to live to please God.
This week we will look at the second name, but before we dive in I would like to honor the text by reading it in Hebrew style which is to stand for its reading.
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
You may be seated. Imagine yourself as an Israelite. You can feel the weight of the neighboring armies approaching Jerusalem and you know you only have a set amount of time before your city will be overthrown, the prophet speaks of this daily.
As the prophet speaks you are told your city will be overthrown, the people will be snared or captures, God’s face will be hidden from you, He will not listen to your prayers. Where do you find joy in those words?
Yet, that is not where the prophet ends, the prophet describes one who will come in the future, that will be the wonderful counselor, the mighty warrior God, everlasting father and prince of peace.
Today, we will look at the name probably translated as mighty God, but will give it a clearer picture as to its use in the Old Testament.
The word used here in the Hebrew is a compound word for God, El-Gibbor. El was a common name for God. It occurs 230 times in the Masoretic Text of the Old Testament. Some times it referenced men, for example Isra-el, or one who wrestled with God.
Gibbor is used 150 times in the Masoretic Text and means “strong, vigorous, hero, champion or warrior. Sometimes it is a term used of men, like in 2 Samuel 23:8, when it refers to David’s mighty men. Other times though it is used of God. So, let’s look at two of those references to get the nuance of the usage.
You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?” But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the Lord your God brought you out. The Lord your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear. Moreover, the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished. Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.
Great and Awesome God, is this word El-Gibbor. Here God is pictured as a Warrior God. The one who defeated Pharaoh and now will send the hornet to get rid of those nations who are hiding. In your fear, God will be the warrior you need.
Another place we see this is in Psalm 24. A Psalm of David.
Of David. A psalm.
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.,
Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory.
Again, the Phrase El-Gibbor is used where it says the Lord mighty in battle. In this Psalm of praise, God is being praised as being the being the King of Glory and one of his attributes in being Strong and Mighty.
It used other places in Isaiah.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
The Lord will march out like a champion,
like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies.
But, how does this apply to Jesus? A lot of times we do not think of Jesus as a mighty warrior, but the bible writers make it clear to us that this is a role of Jesus. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15
In 1 Corinthians 15,
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
Later in the same passage, Paul says,:
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Jesus conquers the world, sin and death.
Jesus conquers the world, sin and death.
in 2 Thessalonians, we see Jesus described as the one who will overthrow Satan.
Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
Jesus conquers Satan.
Jesus conquers Satan.
Finally, we see Jesus not only as a wonderful counselor, but as a our mighty warrior, leading us to victory.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus is our Might Warrior. Leading us to victory.
Jesus is our Might Warrior. Leading us to victory.